Black perch

Embiotoca jacksoni, commonly known as the black surfperch, is a species of surfperch native to shallow coastal areas of the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Other common names of the species include black perch and butterlips. They are commercially important food and game fish.

Distribution

Black surfperches are native to the eastern Pacific. They can be found from shallow coastal waters from Fort Bragg, California to Punta Abreojos, Baja California Sur, including off Guadalupe Island. They are usually found as individuals or in small groups of three or four at depths of 6.1 m (20 ft) but can reach depths of 46 m (151 ft). They inhabit rocky areas and reefs, eelgrass beds, and kelp forests, but can occasionally be found in sandy areas near human structures like piers or pilings. They have also been observed going into Northern San Francisco Bay.